Reciprocating liquid pump



Feb. 28, 1939. H E. RUPP RECIPROCATING LIQUID PUMP Original Filed Nov. 20, 1936 Him 5R 75. Raw

Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECIPROGATING LIQUID PUlVIP Original application November 20, 1936, Serial No. 111,910. Divided and this application August 27, 1937, Serial No. 161,346

11 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid pumps and more, particularlyto pumps of the reciprocating type, having reference to improvements in that class of such devices, commonly known as pressure and suction pumps, wherein one or more plungers actuated by a drive transmission are operable on water with a high pressure head or force. It constitutes a part or division of the invention set forth in my co-pending prior application Serial No. 111,910, filed November 20, 1936, for Reciprocating liquid pump, of which thepresent application is filed as a division.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pump in which the crankshaft or other means, of translating rotary motion into reciprocatory motion is superimposed over the plunger or waterend of the structure and a lubricating system is incorporated therein whereby the motion changing mechanism operates partially submerged in thelubricant and the entire working mechanism is automatically and thoroughly lubrlcated.

Another object is to provide means in the structural organization of i the pump for constantly 25 and without any manual attention relieving the same of any air or gas that may enter thereinto and so eliminate the possibility of any air accumulation orcounter-pressure generation which might impair its effective operation.

A further object is to provide for the pump airchamber to be replenished continually with aim/which is more or less subject to absorption in all liquids under pumping, action and is of course necessary in the regular and proper oper-- ation of all pumps of the kind.

Other objects together with some of the particular advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description with reference tothe attached drawing, wherein one practicable embodiment of the same is illustrated in the somewhat conventional character of a pump intended for heavyduty use.

In said drawing:

The single figure is a vertical or longitudinal section representation of the pump as viewed from one side, a portion thereof, seen in elevation, being broken away fragmentarily toreveal a part enclosed thereby.

Broadly the invention consists of a closed so crankshaft mounting on or over a plunger cylinder opening downwardly into a valve-controlled water passage having an offset air chamher or space, the crankshaft being connected with the plunger through a sealed bottom portion of its casing and having a crank-arm guide or piston member working in said bottom portion so as to force lubricant upwardly through a take-off side wall conduit into jet discharge upon the crank throw and bearing and back into the casing body proper, and the plunger opening into the water passage having a valve-controlled air-release vent connection with, or opening into, the air chamber or space.

In the illustrative construction the pumping chamber is formed in a lower casing I, having an inlet passage 2 and a discharge passage 3, which latter are shown in extension from the sides opposite each other at different or stepped levels. The inlet passage is controlled by a valve 4 and the discharge passage is controlled by a valve 5, both of the same being preferably one way self-seating valves. Above each of said valves a plug-cap 6 is advantageously fitted into hand-holes provided to afford ready access thereto through the casing walls for cleaning, repair or replacement. Between these two valves and the passages controlled thereby a plunger, or plungers, 1 working through the casing top extends downwardly into the central space or pumping chamber 8 formed therebetween. A plug-cap 9 fitted into an entry hole in the bottom of the casing opposite said plunger provides for expedient access thereto for adjustment or replacement, as will be later described, as well as a means of clearing out the pumping chamber space.

This arrangement permits solids which are heavier than the pumped liquid-and which are almost invariably picked up and carried thereby into the pump-to drop away from the plunger and more particularly from the packing, later described, therearound so as to keep the same free from the impact and wear and from the scoring which usually results from such solids or other foreign matter entering with the liquid stream, necessitating costly repairs. It also enables the casing and its passages to be easily and expeditiously freed of any solid or foreign matter that might become lodged therein, in addition to affording ready access to the several working parts named.

The aforesaid plunger 1 is surrounded by a packing I0 fitted into a stuffing-box recess formed in the top of the casing just above the plunger opening thereinto, and this packing is held by a gland-plate ll shown bolted to the casing top. A central counter-bore or channel l2 formed in said plate around the plunger body, being annular in this instance, provides for any water that may leak up past the packing to be retained therewithin and so form an effectual seal against the admission of air down along the plunger on its suction stroke.

Now various pumps of general construction somewhat similar to that thus far described have been produced and proposed. But none of these, insofar as this applicant is aware, has been free of or eliminated certain objectionable and undesirable factors or conditions which impair the full efiiciency and satisfaction of operation of such pumps. One of these factors is the collection and continuing presence of air around the plunger at the point or regional space of its entry into the pumping chamber, due to the location of said plunger in relation to the discharge Valve. This air collection in the top space of the pumping chamber is objectionable, because said air compresses on the discharge stroke and expands on the suction stroke of the plunger, thereby setting up a counter force or action that seriously affects and destroys the pump effectiveness. It has presented a problem of practical operation which the present invention is intended to remove and which it does remove by a very simple expedient.

From the upper space 8 around the plunger an auxiliary passage [3 connects with the air chamber l4, usual to pumps of this type, which latter is in lateral open connection 'at its bottom with the main discharge passage 3 as by an extension or joint piece 3 thereof. Said auxiliary passage is provided with a check-valve l5 therein, and also with a relief cock I6 intermediate the pumping and air chambers, the check-valve being arranged after the cook or nearest to the air chamber. Associated with said cock is another check-valve ll advantageously formed in unit assembly therewith. The purpose of these two check-valves and the cock will be made presently to appear. The aforementioned valve 5 controlling the main and normal discharge passage is made to offer enough resistance to the pumped liquid to cause some of the same to pass through the auxiliary passage l3 with operation of the pump, thereby carrying 'away from the top of the pumping chamber any air that may collect or tend to accumulate therein and discharge such air into the air chamber. Said air chamber is of a size to assure that the flow of liquid thereinto is so low that the air and Water will separate, the air going up to form an effective cushion, and the water passing on into or through the main discharge 3. It will be understood that any discharge taking place through the auxiliary passage l3 will have the same result and produce the same effect regardless of its cause, that is, whether it is caused by the resistance of the valve 5 or by the presence of air in the pumping chamber.

When first starting up the pump, and there being pressure in the discharge line, the cock [6 is opened to allow the air to discharge to the atmosphere so that it cannot be compressed upon the discharge stroke of the plunger and expand again on the suction stroke thereof. Instead, the liquid being pumped will be drawn through the intake valve 4, and such air or gas as is drawn along with it will be subsequently expelled in the same way. The check valve l1 associated with said cock prevents air being drawn in on the suction stroke of the plunger and this cock is kept open until the air or gas has all been discharged and the pump has picked up the more solid liquid for continued pumping. Thereafter the cock may be closed and any air entering the pump in its succeeding normal operation, either by indraft or presence in the water through leakage or otherwise, will be constantly carried and passed off through the auxiliary passage l3 to discharge into the air chamber M. The checkvalve l5, of course, serves to prevent any back flow. Thus the air chamber l4 iskept supplied with air which is constantly being absorbed by the water under pumping operation, especially when the air and liquid are under great pressure. This continual supply of air to the air chamber, of course, maintains the volume of separated air therein sufiicient to maintain an effective cushion.

Adjacent to the air chamber, a gauge tube I8 is advantageously fitted in corresponding lateral extension from the discharge passage 3 (or 3*). This tube may be secured and rigidified by passing through a lug I9 provided on the upper end of the air chamber and is fitted with a pressure gauge 20 on its own upper end. This arrangement has the advantage of putting the gauge a gauge be fitted in the top of the air chamber as is usually done. I

From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated that the structure and organization -described serves two purposes. Firstly, it keeps the pump free from air. Secondly, it keeps the air chamber charged with air to form and maintain an effective cushion, and incidentally it serves the third purpose of guarding this cushion of air against any possible escape. The air which is unavoidably drawn into the pump through the suction line is forcefully and effectually expelled through the auxiliary passage either by carriage with some of the water or by the pressure action of the water body thereon under action of the plunger. This air is discharged into the air chamber without possibility of reentering or back pressing into the pumping chamber and serves to continually supply the air cushion desired and necessary to maintain in the air chamber so as to make up for the air loss therein from absorption by the liquid flowing through the normal dis- I charge. The practicability of this means of eliminating the interference of such air with the pump action and the improved result obtained therefrom will be realized and readily appreciated by anyone versed in this art and acquainted with the difficulties met in actual utility of such pumps.

Another problem encountered in the use of pumps of this type wherein the water end is below the motive mechanism is the retention and circulation of lubricant to properly and adequately lubricate the moving parts. This has presented another problem of practical operation which the present invention is intended to remove and which it does remove by a very simple improvement in the structure and organization of the pump. I

The pumping plunger 1 is connected-not with a crank arm direct, as ordinarily, but-indirectly through a guide or extension member 2| co-axial therewith. Said connection is effected in this instance by a bolt 22 extending through the plunger and having a threaded upper end engaging in said member 2| and a threaded lower end engaged by a retaining nut 23 holding it clamped tightly into place. Incidentally, this affords an easy means of removal or replacement through the hand hole opening in the hottom of the pump casing closedby the plug-cap 9, which is made large enough to permit the plunger to be drawn; therethrough. The. need of removing, loosening or disturbing other parts of thepump is thus eliminated, which is a very desirable advantage. is pivotally connected at 24 with a crank arm 25-, which in turn is conventionally connected with a crank shaft 26 or other means of translatin rotary into reciprocatory motion.

Said crank shaft, crank arm and guide member are enclosed by an inverted crank case 21 in which the crank shaft is journalled and which is itself mounted on the pump casing below. Its lower end is, of course, walled or closed over except for an opening for said guide member therethrough. This opening is fitted with a stuffingbox 28 surrounding the guide member so as to allow it to move up and down freely, but effectually seal the opening against oil leakage. The lower portion of the crank case, constituting the sump chamber or area thereof, is formed as a cylinder 2'1 in'which the aforementioned guide member 2| moves. Fitting into this cylinder, the guide member has a piston portion 2i on the upper end thereof, formed in this instance as an enlargement of the same, guided by the cylinder walls. Enough clearance is allowed between said piston portion and the surrounding cylinder to permit oil to work or pass therearound into the space below, which accordingly becomes filled, the bottom face of the piston portion being formed with a peripheral lipor downwardly extending edge 29 serving as a drip. Said guide members aforesaid pivotal connection 24 with the crank arm is very expediently effected within this piston portion in the manner of the ordinary crank arm and piston connection.

Extending upwardly from the bottom of the cylinder and aforesaid sump chamber of the easing is a side passage or channel 30, having its upper end 3ll opening and directed toward the crank shaft and its throw. This passage has a one-way check or flap valve 3| therein serving to prevent any of the discharge therethrough from flowing back into the cylinder or sump space. A similar passage 32 on the opposite side of the crank case extends upwardly from the cylinder from a level somewhat above that of the first-named passage, and haS'its upper end 32- opening into the crank case above the corresponding opening of the first passage. Oil which has entered the cylinder space below the piston portion of the guide member is thereby forced upwardly through the first-named passage 30 upon downward movement of the member, so as to dischargea stream of the lubricant ontothe crank shaft, its throw and connecting rod bearing. From these parts the oil, of course, drips down onto the top of the piston portion within the upper section of the crank case. Through the second-named passage 32, air from the top portion of the crank case will be supplied to the cylinder space below the piston portion of the guide member so as to be drawn thereinto as said member worksv up and down. The air so drawn into said cylinder space will be trapped between the lower ends of the passages as the guide member travels downward and this trapped air being thus compressed by the piston part of the member will literally blow the oil thereunder through the first-named passage so as to maintain a 'con tinuous jet of lubricant discharge onto-the working parts above.

The said guide member 2| Thus a. continual circulation It is filled to the level of an overflow. hole 34 in one. side. This overflow holev empties into the gear case 35, and fills also the latter to a predetermined proper level which will be advantageous- 1y indicated by a gauge 36 provided in connectionwith the latter for such purpose. The gear 31 is thereby caused to rotate in a pool of the oil.- With rotation it will, of course, pick up some of the oil between its teeth, and by centrifugal action will throw .the picked up oil outward against the inner periphery of the gear case. Such of the oil as is thrown against the back wall of the case drains to a trough 38, indicated in dotted lines, and this trough inclines downwardly to an opening 39 back into the crank case above the level of the aforesaid overflow opening 34. Thus the gear case is adapted and utilized to: serve as a lubricant supply reservoir keeping the oil in the crank case to a level such as to overflow continuously into the gear case through the aforesaid hole 32. It will be understood that in the filling process, some of the oil will flow down past the piston portion of the guide member and fill or partially fill the cylinder space therebelow so that the crank case is substantially filled from the bottom to the upper level of its overflow hole and. none of the oil pumped out of the cylinder space by the piston member is actually lost to reduce. the Working level below that of said overflow hole.

In operation, the oil placed in the crank case seeps down along or past the piston portion 2| of the guide member as before stated, the clearance between said portion and the cylinder wall in effect providing a passage between the upper and lower sections of the crank case. The amount of oil'whi'ch will thus seep down around said piston portion can be controlled by the closeness of its fit to the cylinder so as to provide for the space below the piston portion to be continuously filled or only partially filled during the guide member's stroke action. said piston portion is forced out and upwardly through the passage 30 as the member descends, so as to stream said lubricant onto the crank shaft and connected members as previously described. This action on the oil is promoted if of lubricant is-assuredautomatically by the op- The oil below the space below the piston portion is only parthe. cylinder below the piston portion, tending to draw a fresh supply of air down through the passage 32 and at the same time to also draw more oil from the upper section of the crank case Conversely, on the upward stroke of the' guidemember a partial vacuum will be created in down into the cylinder so astoprovide a fresh-- quantity or charge tobe blown over the crank shaft as before. This action repeats continuously as the guide member is moved up and down by the crank shaft.

As the oil is thus, in operation, continuously drawn from the upper into the lower section of the crankcase and expelled back again there-' into, thereby tendingto keepthe oillevel uniform in the upper section, some of it simultaneously overflows through the opening 34 into the gear case 35. There it is picked up by the rotating gear and carried around to drop into the trough 38 and thereby feed back again into the crank case, thus efl'ectually maintaining a lubricant supply reservoir to the crank case and assuring that its level remains substantially constant. A continuous circulation of the lubricant is accordingly maintained upon all of the parts, so as to keep them thoroughly and adequately lubricated, the crank shaft, crank throw and bearing being supplied by the discharge jet through the passage 30, the driving gear being supplied by its rotation in a generous oil path, and the crank arm pivot and piston portion of the guide member being constantly submerged in oil. The flow cycle or circulation of the oil is, of course, continuous during operation of the pump and all of the working parts are very thoroughly and generously supplied with the lubricant. It is necessary merely to be sure that the crank case is initially filled to the proper level as will be indicated by the gauge 36 in connection with the gear case.

It will be noticed that the stuffing-box 28 of the illustrative construction is so constructed that it will not be required to stop off any of the oil, or any more thereof than is splashed or adheres onto the guide member which extends therethrough into connection with the pumping plunger. The reason for not subjecting the stuffing-box to the necessity of stopping the oil is due to the high viscous qualities of most lubricants that are required to lubricate pumps of this nature, which tend to stick to the member passing therethrough and pass with it through the box so that some of it will be wiped ofi by the packing on the up stroke and consequently wasted. 0n the other hand, if the packing is drawn up tight enough to wipe oiT the heavy lubricant, an unnecessary friction is set up, thereby wearing the packing excessively and consuming more of the power of the pump. It is, of course, necessary to employ a stuffing-box strong enough to withstand the oil pressure from the descending piston portion of the guide member, but it should not be required to stop off any of the oil if the best results and highest efliciency of the pump are to be obtained. It is sufiicient for it merely to prevent the loss or wastage of oil through the packing.

The carriage or other base upon which the entire pump unit is mounted has not been shown, but it will be understood, of course, that it is intended to be placed on any suitable mount, either for portage or fixed operation, this constituting no particular part and being of no importance to the invention itself.

A greatly improved pump construction is thus provided. Not only is the major efficiency of this type of pump attained and assured by the provi- Sion for eliminating the collection or presence of air in the upper part of the pumping chamber which deleteriously affects the pump operation, but it also attains and assures a thorough lubrication of all the working parts by the provision for a complete and generous lubricant circulation without the necessity of any attendance. The invention accordingly produces a novel working organization and makes a distinct advance in the art.

It will be understood that this invention may be embodied in any number of different forms distinguishing from that here illustrated and described, and that various combinations and sub-combinations and changes in the form and arrangement of the parts can be made to suit different types and organizations of pumps of this same general character, without going beyond the actual scope and spirit of this invention. Therefore, the appended claims are not intended to limit the invention to the specific construction, arrangement, organization or combination illustrated and hereinbefore described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a pump embodying a vertical reciprocating member working in a vertical closed chamber and means for reciprocating said member from a point outside of said chamber, means including a secondary pumping member connected between the first said member and said reciprocating means for circulating oil into contact with all operative parts of the reciprocating means so as to thoroughly and automatically lubricate the same, said secondary pumping member constituting also a guide element.

2. In a reciprocating pump, including a vertically reciprocable plunger operating in a vertical closed chamber, a crank-shaft mounted above the same, a connecting rod connected with said crank-shaft, a connecting-rod guide connected between said connecting rod and said plunger, said connecting-rod guide constituting also a secondary pumping plunger and means including a casing surrounding said crank-shaft and connecting parts for forcing a lubricant from below the connecting-rod guide to a place above said guide by action of the guide itself during operation of the pump.

3. In a pump, a reciprocating pumping plunger operable vertically through the top of a vertical pump chamber, a crank-case mounted over said chamber above said plunger and containing an operating crank-shaft, a connecting rod connected with said shaft and a connecting-rod guide connected between said connecting rod and said plunger, said connecting-rod guide having a pivot-pin connection with the connecting rod and said connecting-rod guide constituting also a secondary pumping member, the said pivot-pin connection with the connecting rod and a part of the connecting-rod guide being submerged in a lubricant contained within the crank-case, and means associated with said connecting members and the crank-case for forcing the lubricant under action of the connecting-rod guide from below the same upwardly onto the crank-shaft and the connections therewith.

4. In a pump, embodying a reciprocating pumping plunger operable vertically through the top of a vertical pump chamber and having drive mechanism mounted thereabove including a crank-shaft, a connecting rod and a connectingrod guide constituting also a secondary pumping member connected therewith within a crank-case according to claim 3, an associated gear case adjacent the crank-case, means for forcing a lubricant from below the connecting-rod guide to a place above said guide and throwing said lubricant onto the crank-shaft within said crankcase, and means for transferring some of the lubricant from the crank-case to the gear case and from the gear case back to the crank-case.

5. A pump, comprising in combination, a vertical pump chamber, a reciprocating pumping plunger operable vertically through the top of said chamber, a crank-shaft journalled in a closed 'crank casing mounted'over the pump chamber abovethe pumping plunger, means including a crank-arm operatively connecting the crank-shaft withsai'd plunger through a sealed opening in the bottom of the crank casing and having a crank arnrguide or piston member constituting also a secondary pumping plunger working in the bottom portion of said crank casing so as to act with pumping force upon a lubricant contained in said bottom portion of the casing, and an inner side wall take-off conduit extending from said bottom to the top section of the crank casing and adapted to discharge lubricant forced therethrough by said crank-arm guide or piston member onto the crank-shaft and crank-arm bearing back into the crank casing body proper.

6. A pump, comprising in combination, a vertical pump chamber, a reciprocating pumping plunger operable vertically through the top of said chamber, an inverted crank-case mounted over the pump chamber above said pumping plunger and having its lower portion formed as a cylinder, a connecting-rod guide member connecting with the plunger through a sealed opening in the bottom of said crank-case and having a portion formed as a piston constituting a secondary pump member working in said cylinder portion of the crank-case with a sufiicient clearance from its walls to form a passage between the upper and lower sections of the crank-case divided thereby, a connecting rod pivotally connected with said guide member, a crank-shaft journalled in the crank-case and connected with said connecting rod, a gear case associated with the crank-case and containing a drive gear for driving the crank-shaft, an overflow opening between said crank and gear cases to the level of which the crank-case is filled with lubricant, a return fiow opening from the gear case to the crank-case above said overflow opening, means for directing to said return flow opening lubricant picked up and thrown off by the driving gear in its operative rotation, means assuring an overflow supply of lubricant into a bath for the gear to a predetermined level in the gear case, a lubricant passage from the lower or cylinder formed part of the crank-case extending upwardly to a discharge opening toward the crank-shaft and connecting-rod bearing, a like air passage extending upwardly from the lower or cylinder part of the casing from a higher level to a like discharge opening above the corresponding opening of the first passage, and means in the first-named passage for preventing a back fiow of the liquid discharged upwardly therethrough by pressure of the piston portion of the guide member in its down stroke within the cylinder portion of the casing.

'7. In a pump embodying a vertical reciprocating member working in a vertical closed chamber, means for reciprocating said member from a point outside said chamber, and means including a secondary pumping member connected between the first said member and said reciprocating means for forcing oil into circulative feed to all operative parts of the reciprocating means so as to automatically and thoroughly lubricate the same, said secondary member being operable within an oil containing cylinder and with said cylinder constituting also a guide in the reciprocating connection with the first pumping mem' ber.

8. In a pump embodying a vertical reciprocating member and a vertical closed chamber in which said member operatively works,'mea'ns' m1- reciprocating the pumping member from a point outside said chamber,- and means including a secondary vertically reciprocating pumping member connected between the first said member and said reciprocating means for force circulating oil into new contact with the operative parts of the reciprocating means so as to automatically and thoroughly lubricate the same, said secondary pumping member being operable within a cylinder forming part of an oil-containing casing enclosing the reciprocating means and together with said cylinder part of the casing constituting also a guide element in the connection between said means and the first-named pumping member.

9. In a pump embodying a vertically reciprocable pumping member and a closed vertical chamber in which said member works, crank means for reciprocating the pumping member from a point above said chamber, and means including a secondary vertically reciprocable pumping member connected between the first said member and said crank means for forcing oil into circulative fiow contact with the operative parts of the reciprocating means so as to automatically and thoroughly lubricate the same, said secondary pumping member and said crank means being enclosed within an oil containing casing mounted on the main pumping chamber and said secondary pumping means being operable within a cylinder formed portion of said casing and together with said cylinder portion constituting also a guide element in the connection between the crank means and the firstnamed pumping member.

10. In a pump, a vertically reciprocable pumping plunger working in a vertical closed chamber, means including a crank shaft for reciprocating said plunger from a point above said chamber, a secondary pumping member connected between the first said member and said reciprocating means and forming a part of the latter, a casing enclosing said reciprocating means and forming in its lower oil-containing end a cylinder in which said secondary pumping member operatively works and together with said cylinder constitutes also a guide member in the reciprocating connection with the main pumping plunger, an oil conduit leading from said cylinder formed portion of the casing below the secondary pumping member to a point of forced ejection upon the crank shaft part of the reciprocating means, and other oil conduits formed in the casing to maintain a fiow of the lubricant to other parts of the reciprocating means when the pump is in operation with said secondary pumping member forcing oil upwardly through the first-named conduit by its compressive action upon the same contained in its working cylinder.

11. In a pump, a reciprocating pumping plunger operable vertically within a vertical closed pumping chamber, means including a crank shaft mounted over said chamber for reciprocating said plunger from a point thereabove, and means including a secondary pumping plunger connected between the first said plunger and said reciprocating means for circulating oil by force feed into contact with all operative parts of the reciprocating means so as to thoroughly and automatically lubricate the same and forming a part of said reciprocating means, the said secondary pumping plunger being vertically operable within a cylinder portion of a casing enclosing the entire reciprocating means and together with said cylinder portion providing also a guide member in the reciprocating connection with the main pump plunger, and the said casing being mounted over the main pump chamber with its said cylinder portion and lower end closed to the latter and with its walls supporting the said reciprocating means, said casing having an oil filling to a predetermined level in its cylinder portion and lower end part and a one-way valvecontrolled oil conduit leading from said cylinder portion below the secondary pumping plunger upwardly into discharge upon the crank-shaft part of the reciprocating means.

HERBERT E. RUPP. 

